After the meal, she nearly retched in the hallway. Even water couldn't wash away the taste.
Nie Rougang returned to his room to shower. The memory of Song Yue's miserable expression while chewing the bitter melon kept replaying in his head.
Song Yue slipped into his room, cheeks puffed, mouth still twisted from bitterness.
The bathroom door swung open. Nie Rougang stepped out, towel in hand. He paused mid-movement.
"Why are you here? Go back to your own room."
Song Yue marched right up to him. "Why did you feed me bitter melon? You know I hate it! My mouth is ruined now! You have to take responsibility!"
She grabbed his arm and shook it dramatically.
Nie Rougang looked down with a darkened face. "If your mouth is bitter, eat candy. Or a mint."
"No! Candy makes you fat. But…" she pouted, eyelashes fluttering, "I heard a kiss works even better."
He sputtered. "I ate more bitter melon than you! If I kiss you, the bitterness will be worse. Go back to your room."
Song Yue rose on her tiptoes, arms looping around his neck like a soft little vine.
"Then…" she whispered, warm breath brushing his jaw, "I'll help relieve your pain."
Suddenly—
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.
"Third brother, are you there?"
Song Yue's soul nearly LEFT her body.
Why did Aunt Yuxuan always appear at the worst possible time?
They'd been this close to her dream…
Nie Rougang reacted instantly. He jerked back, grabbed her small wrist, and dragged her into the bathroom. He snatched the bathrobe off the hook and threw it over himself.
"Don't move," he hissed, shutting the bathroom door.
Song Yue exhaled shakily.
If that woman barged in… she would've seen her clinging to him like a vine.
She pressed her ear to the door. What did that woman want this late at night?
Outside, Nie Rougang opened his bedroom door.
Song Yuxuan froze at the sight of him—
White bathrobe.
Half his chest is exposed.
Wet hair clinging to his forehead.
And Steam is still rolling off his skin.
Her face flushed red like she'd been slapped.
"Third brother… I—I have a contract term I don't understand." She timidly extended the document. Her voice was gentle enough to float on a breeze.
"It's too late. I'll explain it tomorrow at the company," Nie Rougang said, expression flat.
"Tomorrow?" She blinked pitifully. "But the office said it must be clarified tonight. I'm discussing it with the client early tomorrow."
Nie Rougang frowned. "Fine. Wait outside. I'll change and meet you in the study."
"No need!" Song Yuxuan said quickly, stepping directly inside his room without permission. "I'll just come in, and you can explain it here."
Song Yue nearly burst from the bathroom door.
Shameless!
So shameless!
Nie Rougang stiffened. He couldn't change with Song Yue inside and Yuxuan outside. He could only stay in the bathrobe.
"What don't you understand?" he asked curtly.
She sat on his bed and pointed at the paper. "This clause… shouldn't we increase the deposit? To make the client less likely to back out?"
"The law only protects a 20% deposit. Anything more is meaningless." He spoke smoothly, businesslike. "If we go to court, we still have to refund it."
Song Yuxuan stared at his side profile, her gaze practically melting on his skin.
"If you understand, go back to sleep," Nie Rougang said. "I don't want you to be late tomorrow."
But she wasn't giving up.
She stumbled dramatically— "Oh! Third brother, I sprained my ankle!"
She pitched herself into his arms.
Song Yue nearly threw the soap dispenser again.
Nie Rougang steadied her but kept a distance. "You sprained your ankle? Sit. I'll call a doctor."
"No need," she said gently. "It's not that serious. Third brother… do you have safflower oil? Can you… Apply some for me?"
Song Yue's eye twitched.
This aunt was a PROFESSIONAL seductress.
Nie Rougang retrieved the safflower oil. "Here. I'll get Sister Yu to apply it."
"No. You can do it." She smiled shyly. "It's late… best not disturb Sister Yu."
Inside the bathroom, Song Yue grabbed the resin soap box—
BANG!
The loud noise made Song Yuxuan jump so violently that she almost fell off the bed.
Her gaze snapped to the bathroom door. "W-who's in the bathroom?"
"No one," Nie Rougang said immediately. "You misheard. It's the next room."
"It didn't sound like—"
"It's the next room," he insisted. "The soundproofing here is terrible."
Song Yuxuan frowned.
What was the second sister-in-law doing next door at this hour?
Song Yue smirked wickedly, picked up the mouthwash cup—
CLATTER!
Much louder.
This time, even Nie Rougang flinched.
Song Yuxuan bolted upright. "That sound came from the bathroom! Who is hiding in there?!"
"The hamster Song Yue brought earlier," Nie Rougang said quickly, face bland. "It must've escaped its cage."
"A—AHHH! A hamster!?" Song Yuxuan shrieked like she'd seen a demon. "NO! Third brother, catch it! Catch it now!"
"I'll show you," Nie Rougang said, approaching the door.
"NO!" she screamed, leaping off the bed with record-breaking speed. "I'll go! I'll go! Just get rid of it!"
She fled faster than a rabbit escaping a tiger.
The moment the door slammed—
Song Yue strutted out of the bathroom like a smug queen. "Sprained her ankle? She ran faster than a rabbit," she scoffed.
Nie Rougang shut the door and leveled a dark look at her. "You made the noise on purpose. Song Yue, have you no shame? You WANTED her to find you in my room!"
Song Yue lifted her chin. "Leave me alone! Auntie came into your room in the middle of the night and pretended to sprain her ankle! She's the shameless one!"
Her voice cracked.
"You chased me away because you want to marry Auntie! You big liar!"
She pounded on his chest with her small fists, tears streaming. "You're mine! I won't let anyone take you away! I won't—I won't—I WON'T!"
Nie Rougang stared at the small, trembling figure clinging to him, and pain flashed in his eyes.
"I didn't lie to you," he said hoarsely. "I didn't send you away because of Song Yuxuan. Don't cry… please. Calm down."
His anger crumbled instantly under her tears.
Song Yue seized the opportunity, looped her arms around his neck, and pressed herself against him.
"Uncle…" she whispered breathlessly, lips brushing his ear… "I want you to love me, pamper me, and treasure me for the rest of your life."
"I want to be your woman."